Latest News #235 - Central African Rep.
March 03, 2003

Fellowship asked to pray after Bible Society in Central African Republic loses Bible House

BANGUI, Central African Republic — A translator based at the Bible Society in the Central African Republic has described how Bible House in the capital, Bangui, was razed to the ground on Sunday February 16 as part of government plans to build a 20,000-seater sports stadium.

Simon Dimanche, a translator on the Sango Bible translation project, said a bulldozer arrived in the vicinity of Bible House while all the staff were at church. Fortunately, it first tackled some neighbouring buildings, believed to have been empty, allowing time for Marie-Paxcède Mornadji-Bobal, the Bible Society's Acting Director, to be alerted. She rushed to the scene and some police officers who arrived with her were able to prevent serious looting of the office's contents by local people.

The computers which hold more than 20 years' work on the Sango Bible translation project were among the property salvaged before the bulldozer started work.

Speaking the following day, Mr Dimanche said that Bible Society staff summoned to Bible House had "grabbed what we could in a rush."

The computers were initially moved to Mrs Bobal's house and stocks of Bibles – a few of which had been stolen – were stored outdoors on her property.

"Fortunately," said Mr Dimanche, "it is not the rainy season."

Remaining items were put in the safekeeping of other members of the seven Bible House staff. News was received last week by the United Bible Societies (UBS) World Service Center that the Bible Society has now set up a temporary office in a private home in Bangui.

Although the Bible Society's regular prayer meeting went ahead as usual the morning after the destruction, on that occasion "it wasn't praise that went up to God," said Mr Dimanche, "it was tears, sadness and desolation."

Details about a dialogue between government officials and the Bible Society prior to the recent dramatic turn of events are currently sketchy. It is known, however, that the government had served notice on the tenants of buildings neighbouring Bible House in order to make way for a new sports stadium which the Chinese government has offered to build.

In a country which has been suffering unrest and civil war for more than 20 years, this foreign investment would understandably be a project the government was keen to press ahead with.

In a fax to the World Service Center dated February 28, David Hammond, the UBS Associate General Secretary of the Francophone Africa Region, reported that following the razing of Bible House Mrs Bobal had written to President Patasse but had not received a reply. He said that, coming on top of low sales due to the country's civil war, the latest crisis meant that the Bible Society stood in great need of wisdom and prayers.

Dr Phil Noss, the UBS Translation Services Coordinator, was in Bangui last October to run a workshop for translators working on the Sango translation of the Old Testament. His stay was prolonged for a week when fighting between government forces and rebels (see Latest News #220, November 5, 2002) broke out in the capital itself.

Dr Noss said the translation work would now be held up.

"It will take some time for the Bible Society to get set up for work again," he said. "This will be another delay in the many delays and difficulties the Sango project has faced."

Meanwhile, Mr Dimanche begged "our friends in the United Bible Societies" to pray about all aspects of the crisis. "Pray for the Bible Society," he urged. "Pray for all the staff, pray that God will pour his peace and consolation into our hearts."

Communications problems over the past week at the UBS Francophone Africa Regional Service Center in Lomé, Togo, are hampering the flow of information about developments in Bangui. The World Service Center will publish further information as soon as it becomes available.